Saddle Up Westerns: Apache Rifles + Panhandle (Kit Parker Films Blu-ray Review)

Apache Rifle - Directed by: William Witney Starring: Audie Murphy, Michael Dante, Linda Lawson, L. Q. Jones, Ken Lynch, Joseph Vitale

Panhandle - Directed by: Lesley Selander Starring: Rod Cameron, Cathy Downs, Reed Hadley, Anne Gwynne, Blake Edwards, Dick Crockett

There was a time in cinema that there was no popular genre than the western. Productions companies were churning out these kinds of films like butter. And the more they made, the more audiences wanted.

Now most of these westerns were not John Wayne, James Stewart or Gary Cooper. Many of these films were the B westerns. Now most of the time when people think B movies than think the 'B' stands for bad. Nothing could be farther from the truth. B movies were just movies made on a smaller budget, and many of them are just as good, if not sometimes even better than the big budget films.

Kit Parker Films and MVD Visual have been teaming up for a while bringing us the physical media fans many cool releases. two of my favorites have to be Stooge-O-Rama and Laurel and hard the Definitive Restorations. But now it is time for a new Blu-ray release and why not a western double feature?! Enter "Saddle Up Westerns: Apache Rifles and Panhandle".

Movie Rating:
****=Don’t Miss it!
***=Worth a look.
**=An Ok way to spend some time.
*=You haven’t missed anything.


APACHE RIFLES (1964) Jeff Preston (Audie Murphy) commands an Arizona cavalry outpost. He hates the Apaches and fights them fiercely -- until he meets a part-Indian missionary (Linda Lawson). But there's gold on the Apache land and greedy white miners (led by L.Q. Jones) will do anything to get it. A tough little Western from William Witney, a legendary action director, filmed around Lone Pine. ***

PANHANDLE (1948) When his brother is murdered, reformed gunman John Sands (Rod Cameron) straps his guns on to go after the killers -- and realizes the locals can't see beyond his outlaw past. Filmed around Lone Pine and directed by genre expert Lesley Selander, this superior Western (one of Selander's best) was co-written and co-produced by Blake Edwards (who also plays a young gunslinger). ***

Apache Rifles is in color, while Panhandle is in sepia tone. Both of these westerns have been transferred to Blu-ray in 1080p. Apache Rifle is presented in 1.85:1 aspect ratio and Panhandle in 1.37:1 aspect ratio. These transfers are not just any transfers; they are sourced from the 4K restoration of the original 35MM negatives.

The picture quality of these westerns is really something special. They are crisp and clean the colors of Apache Rifles are nice and the sepia tone of Panhandle really benefits from this new 4K restoration. But in addition to two fun little b westerns wonderfully restored. Kit Paker Films and MVD Visual added a couple cool bonus features.

* Something a Little Bigger Monogram Allied Artists and Panhandle
* The End of the Trail: Audie Murphy and Apache Rifles

These two mini documentaries run around 6 minutes each and give the viewer more information about the great Audie Murphy and Monogram pictures. These videos pack so much information in 6 minutes. You will need to watch them several times to grasp all the details. But these are so well produced you won't mind.  

If you enjoy B Westerns this new Blu-ray Double Feature from Kit Parker Films and MVD Visual delivers a lot of bang for your buck. Ad after all that is truly all we can ask from a Blu-ray release. Saddle Up Westerns is an absolute must for your home video collection. Head over to MVD Shop or Amazon and order your copy today!

Out of 4 Film Reels (4 being the best) the Blu-ray of Saddle Up Westerns: Apache Rifle + Panhandle receives....